Sports equipment for functional training

ABSTRACT

Sports equipment comprising a handle and at least one stem made of soft and light material fixed and aligned to the handle. The weight of the handle is considerably greater than that of the stem.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a sports equipment of the typeincluding a handle to which a stem is fixed.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Foil, swords and sabres are known in the art as sports equipments usedin competition between two contenders. Such equipments are normallylight so as to enable a quick and accurate movement: their weigh isusually comprised between 500 and 700 grams distributed in an almostbalanced fashion between the handle and the stem.

U.S. Pat. No. 660,692 shows a dump-bell which, in a use configuration,has a handling part from which a rigid threaded stem projects. Thehandle can be used as a conventional dump-bell or as a club for jugglingexercises.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,164 discloses a light police baton with a handle towhich a stick made up of a light rattan core is fixed. The baton isintended to be used by law enforcement officers to deliver minor damagesto the ill-intentioned thanks to its overall lightness.

There arises the need for a sports equipment capable of enablingtraining individually or in pairs based on simulation of the typicalmoves in a sword and shield battle though entirely harmless and with aweight high enough to enable efficient muscle building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment thus made.

According to the invention, this purpose is attained thanks to a sportsequipment according to claim 1, i.e. comprising a handle having a firstend and a second end, at least one stem made of soft and light materialaligned to said handle and fixed at the first end, and in which theweight of the handle is considerably greater than that of the stem.

In addition, the invention provides for a sports kit made up of thesports equipment used alongside a shield which comprises a disc-shapedstructure having an inner face to which a handle is fixed and an outerface provided with a soft material lining, in which the disc-shapedstructure is suitable to fixedly or removably house one or more variableweight elements.

A sports training method in which the sports equipment and the shieldcan be used simultaneously is also described.

In particular, using the sports equipment and/or the shield according tothe invention enables performing a sports activity aimed at makingcountless more or less complex movements (or combinations of movements),individually, in pairs or in groups, thanks to the greater weight of thehandle of the equipment and the structure of the shield (if provided),performing a physical training exercise for building up muscles andsimultaneously, thanks to the soft and light stem of the sportsequipment, making the action against an object (or person) entirelyharmless.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail, purely by way ofnon-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically shows the distribution of the masses in aconventional equipment (FIG. 1.1) and in one according to the invention(FIG. 1.2);

FIG. 2 shows a conventionally known tool (FIG. 2.1) and sports equipment(FIG. 2.2) and some embodiments of the invention (FIGS. 2.3-2.11);

FIGS. 3 to 5 show some possible embodiments of the sports equipmentaccording to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the equipment providing for a modularsolution for applying gym weights to the handle;

FIG. 7 shows a variant of the sports equipment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the equipment that enables adding weightson the second end of the handle;

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the sports equipmentaccording to the invention, comprising an electronic module providedwith sensors and means for the remote transmission of the data detectedby the sensors;

FIG. 10 shows a shield of a kit according to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a sports equipment provided with two stems according to avariant of the invention;

FIGS. 12 to 14 show possible examples of use of the sports equipmentaccording to the invention;

FIG. 15 shows a potential use of the sports kit made up of the equipmentand the shield according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the principles of the invention with reference to anelementary object made up of an extended stem and a head in twodifferent use configurations. In particular, the distribution of massesin the two different configurations with respect to the part in whichthe object is held by a user, are represented schematically. In FIG. 1.1the mass stem m serves as a handle and the mass head M is moved at speedv. In FIG. 1.2 the mass stem m is moved at speed v and the mass head Mserves as a handle. In cases where the mass M of the head isconsiderably greater than the mass of the stem (i.e. M>>m), the amountof motion P₁=Mv associated to the mass head M of the object in the useconfiguration of FIG. 1.1 will be considerably greater than the amountof motion p₂=mv associated to the mass stem m of the object in the useconfiguration of FIG. 1.2; i.e. P₁>>p₂. This implies that an objectimpacted by the head M moving at speed v would receive a stress (force)considerably greater than the stress exerted by the mass stem m whichmoves at the same speed v. Vice versa, an object impacted by the massstem m moving at speed v would receive a stress (force) considerablylower than the stress exerted by the mass head M which moves at the samespeed v.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional hammer (FIG. 2.1) and a conventionalsword (FIGS. 2.2) and three embodiments of the invention (FIGS. 2.3,2.4, 2.5) with the aim of revealing the physics principle described withreference to FIG. 1.

The hammer illustrated in FIG. 2.1 has a head T with considerablygreater mass with respect to the handle im. Also the sword in FIG. 2.2has a blade L with a considerably greater mass with respect to thehandle ip. With the aim of optimising the purpose that these objectswere designed for, it is actually preferable that the amount of motiontransmitted to the object to be impacted by means of the opposite endwith respect to handle be the greatest possible (same principle alsoapplying to a baseball bat, golf club or the like).

On the contrary, the article of the example illustrated in FIG. 1.2refers to a sports equipment A according to the invention, which isshown in some embodiments thereof in FIGS. 2.3-2.11 in which theequipment A has a handle i having a considerably greater mass than themass of the stem s. Thus, the amount of motion transmitted to the objector person hit by the stem s is reduced to the minimum and, at the sametime, due to the heavy handle i, a user may perform a considerablephysical exercise suitable to build muscles and improve strength,resistance and coordination physical performance.

In an embodiment, the weight of said handle i is one order of magnitudegreater than that of the stem s.

With reference to the centre of mass of the sports equipment A accordingto the invention, it is at a point comprised between the first end 1 andthe second end 2 of the handle i.

The heavy handle i is designed to enable a comfortable and firm gripwith one hand or, in an embodiment, with two hands. In addition, it canbe variously shaped: in FIG. 2.3 the handle i is shaped to form aconstant radius cylinder, while in FIGS. 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 it hasone or two disc-shaped elements or flanges 3 projecting from one or bothends 1, 2. Like in the weight-lifting handles, the projectingdisc-shaped elements 3 have the double function of increasing the weightof the element on which they are mounted and protecting the hand whenthe element is placed on the ground. In order to make gripping furtherharmless in case of impact, in FIG. 2.8 the flange projecting from theend 2 is shaped without edges and in FIGS. 2.10 and 2.11 the end 2 isprovided with a soft lining 13. The diameter of the handle i iscomprised between 10 and 60 mm, more preferably approximately between 30and 40 mm. The weight of the handle i may be comprised approximatelybetween 1 kg and 10 kg.

The stem s is designed to be as light as possible, so that the amount ofmotion transmitted during an impact is minimum. In addition, it is madeof soft material, so that the force resulting from the impact isminimised further. An example of material suitable for constructing thestem is XL EXTRALIGHT®, a closed-cell expanded material sold in Italy byFinproject S.p.A. Thanks to these characteristics, the action of thesports equipment A on an hit object or person will be of low impact andthus entirely harmless.

In the preferred embodiment, the stem s, in the area for coupling withthe handle, has a protection-like flange 9 covered with soft material topartly protect the hand of a user and prevent the hit object or personfrom impacting against a part made of hard material.

The length of the stem s is approximately comprised between 20 and 100cm, more preferably between 30 and 80 cm; as mentioned, the weight ofthe stem s is considerably lesser than that of the handle i andpreferably lesser than 1 Kg approximately. The heavy handle i and thelight stem s are aligned on the same axis and are integrally mutuallyjoined so as not to disengage during use. In some embodiments, theengagement between the stem s and the handle i is permanent, while it isreleasable in others so as to enable disassembly thereof.

In an embodiment, the stem s is constituted by an inflatable bladder.

FIG. 3 shows some embodiments of the equipment A according to theinvention.

In FIG. 3.1, the fixing of the stem s on the handle i is obtained bygluing or coupling so as to obtain the assembled equipment A of FIG.3.2;

in FIG. 3.3 the stem is provided with an inner stiffening core 4 thatcan be coupled to the handle i by means of screws or coupling so as toobtain the assembled equipment A of FIG. 3.4;

in FIG. 3.5 the handle i is provided with a pipe t projecting from thefirst end 1 thereof and couplable to the stem s by means of gluing orcoupling so as to obtain the assembly A of FIG. 3.6;

FIG. 3.7 shows an exploded view of an embodiment according to theinvention in which the pipe t is suitable to be partly introduced andlocked by gluing or coupling in the stem s. A hollow cylindrical handlei, provided with an end flange 3, is provided with a coaxial throughhole 8 within which the portion of the pipe t projecting from the stem scan be inserted. Screw-like fastening members v are designed to fix theend of the portion of the pipe t projecting from the stem s to thesecond end 2 of the handle 1 so as to obtain the assembly A of FIG. 3.8.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 the handle can be constituted by acylinder made of plastic and/or rubber material with end flanges 3within which one or more suitably calibrated weights (for example madeof iron or lead) can be permanently or removably housed. Alternatively,the handle i and the flange 3 can be made of one or more heavy materials(for example iron or lead) and be partly or fully covered by softmaterial.

FIG. 4 shows some possible variants of the handle i of the equipment Aaccording to the invention.

In FIGS. 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, the handles i have respectively increasingdimensions and weights;

in FIG. 4.4 the handle i is extended to enable a 2-handed use.

FIG. 5 shows some possible variants of the stem s of the equipment Aaccording to the invention:

in FIGS. 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, the stem s has a variable diameter section inthe area for coupling with the handle i and/or in the opposite end;

in FIGS. 5.4 and 5.5 the stems s have similar shapes and differentlengths.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the equipment A according to the inventionwhich enables obtaining a disassemblable modular solution to enablequick assembly and disassembly of one or more commonly known gym weightsd.

FIG. 6.1 shows an exploded view of the entirety of the components. Thestem s is designed with an annular flange 9 in the end for coupling withthe handle i. The handle i comprises a tubular section t which iscoupled to the stem in a first end thereof by means of gluing and/orcoupling, and it is provided with a thread 10 in the opposite endthereof. The following are engaged on the pipe t in the following order:two gym weights d to be arranged abutting against the flange of the stem9, a hollow cylindrical knob m which also serves as a spacer between theweights d, two further gym weights d and a threaded ring nut v that canbe engaged in the thread 10 and suitable to firmly lock the weights dand the knob m on the pipe t;

FIG. 6.2 shows the end result with the assembly A.

A man skilled in the art will clearly observe that, in order to changethe overall weight of the equipment A enabling a user to train invariously demanding conditions, the number, size and material the gymweights d are made of can be unlimitedly varied still remain within thescope of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the equipment A according to the inventionsimilar to the one described in FIG. 6. In this case, the hollow knob mincludes, at each of the ends thereof, two flanges 3 in which weights dof different dimensions and/or materials can be housed.

FIG. 7.1 shows an exploded view of the components used in thisembodiment.

FIG. 7.2 shows, in partially exploded view, an intermediate assemblycondition in which three weights d abut against the end flange 9 of thestem s and they are housed in the corresponding end flange 3 of thehandle i. Other three weights d can once again be engaged on the pipe t,housed in the end flange 3 and fastened using the ring nut g.

FIG. 7.3 shows the end result with the assembly A.

Even in this case, the number and amount of weights d used may varyunlimitedly.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the equipment A according to theinvention. FIG. 8.1 shows a cylindrical-shaped weight 11 that can befixed at a hole f provided on the second end 2 of the handle i by meansof a screw or coupling system.

FIG. 8.2 shows the end result with the assembly A.

The weight 11 may vary in terms of shape and material to enable simplyand practically modifying the overall weight of the sports equipment A.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the equipment A according to the inventionwhich enables housing an electronic module provided with sensors formeasuring the performance level during training. Such sensors, notdescribed in detail in that within the reach of the man skilled in theart, are suitable to calculate acceleration, speed, delivered shots andthe calories used by a user during a training session. Furthermore,Wi-Fi or Bluetooth means for the remote transmission of the datadetected by the sensors to an external receiver device (for example asmartphone or tablets, not shown) on which there can be operated aspecific application for processing and displaying such data, are alsoprovided for. The electronic module e can be inserted into a hole f ofthe handle i and be locked by means of a ring nut g. Alternatively, theelectronic module can be housed outside the handle.

FIG. 10 shows a shield 12 which forms a sports kit according to theinvention alongside the previously described equipment A.

FIG. 10.1 shows an exploded view of the elements that form the shield12. The shield 12 comprises a disc-shaped structure 4 having an innerface 5 to which a handle 6 and an outer face 7 provided with a softmaterial lining, is fixed. The disc-shaped structure 4 is suitable tofixedly or removably house one or more variable weight elements d.

FIG. 10.2 shows the end result with the assembly 12.

FIG. 11 shows a variant of the equipment A according to the inventionprovided with two juxtaposed stems s, s. A respective stem s isconnected to each end 1, 2 of the handle i as described in any of theprevious embodiments.

FIG. 12 shows a potential example of use of the equipment according tothe invention.

In particular, FIG. 12.1 shows a person p gripping the equipment A andtraining following roto-translational movements schematised by thedouble arrow rt; there are countless possible movements for simulatingthe conditions typical of a sword battle; training can be carried out byrepeating the movements (or combinations of movements) in subsequentseries that provide for various repetitions; training can be carried outwith or without music.

FIG. 12.2 shows several people p1, p2, p3 respectively gripping thesports equipment A1, A2, A3 and training executing—together and in acoordinated fashion—several types of movements like in the case of FIG.12.1.

FIG. 13 shows a potential example of application of the equipmentaccording to the invention.

FIG. 13.1 shows a person p gripping the equipment A and training hittinga punching bag b hanged on the ceiling;

FIG. 13.2 shows a person p gripping the equipment A and training hittinga punching bag b placed on the ground.

FIG. 14 shows a potential example of use of the equipment A according tothe invention.

FIG. 14.1 shows two people p1 and p2, respectively gripping the sportsequipment A1 and A2, training simulating moves similar to a swordbattle.

FIG. 14.2 shows two people p1 and p2, gripping two sports equipmentrespectively A1-A2 and A3-A4, training simulating moves similar to asword battle.

FIG. 15 shows a potential example of application and use of the sportskit according to the invention.

FIG. 15.1 shows a person p1 gripping an equipment having a handle withtwo hands A1 and training with a person p2 gripping two equipmentsA3-A4, simulating moves typical of a sword battle;

FIG. 15.2 shows two people p1 and p2, respectively gripping an equipmentA1 and a shield 12 training simulating moves similar to a sword andshield battle.

Obviously, the details and embodiments of the equipment and sports kitaccording to the invention may widely vary with respect to what has beendescribed and illustrated by way of example, without departing from thescope of protection of the present invention as defined in the claimsthat follow.

1. Sports equipment (A) comprising a handle (i) having a first end (1)and a second end (2), at least one stem (s) made of soft and lightmaterial aligned to said handle (i) and fixed at the first end (1),characterised in that the weight of said handle (i) is considerablygreater than that of said stem (s).
 2. Sports equipment (A) according toclaim 1 characterised in that the weight of said handle (i) is one orderof magnitude greater than that of said stem (s).
 3. Sports equipment (A)according to claim 1 characterised in that the weight of said handle (i)is preferably comprised between 1 and 10 kg.
 4. Sports equipment (A)according to claim 1 characterised in that the centre of mass of saidsports equipment (A) is at a point comprised between the first end (1)and the second end (2) of said handle (i).
 5. Sports equipment (A)according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that saidhandle (i) is designed to removably receive one or more variable weightelements (d, 11).
 6. Sports equipment (A) according to any one of thepreceding claims, characterised in that said handle (i) comprises atleast one flange (3) at an end thereof configured to house at least oneweight (d, 11).
 7. Sports equipment (A) according to claim 6characterised in that the at least one weight (d, 11) housed in theflange (3) is removable.
 8. Sports equipment (A) according to any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that said stem (s) is formed byan inflatable bladder.
 9. Sports equipment (A) according to any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that said handle (i) has a lengthsufficient to enable gripping with two hands.
 10. Sports equipment (A)according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that saidhandle (i) has an ergonomic shape.
 11. Sports equipment (A) according toany one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said handle (i)is provided with a flange (3) projecting from said second end (2) andprovided with a soft lining (13).
 12. Sports equipment (A) according toany one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said stem (s) hasan overall length comprised between 30 and 80 CM.
 13. Sports equipment(A) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in thatsaid stem (s) has an inner stiffening core (4).
 14. Sports equipment (A)according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that saidstem (s) has a circular-shaped, square-shaped or polygonal-shapedcross-section.
 15. Sports equipment (A) according to claim 14,characterised in that said stem (s) is tapered along the longitudinalaxis thereof.
 16. Sports equipment (A) according to any one of thepreceding claims, characterised in that the coupling between the stem(s) and the handle (i) can be disengaged.
 17. Sports equipment (A)according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that itis provided with an electronic module (e) provided with sensors fordetecting at least one from among acceleration, speed, shots deliveredand calories used by a user and wireless means for transmitting suchdetected data to an external receiver device for processing and displaythereof.
 18. Sports equipment (A) according to any one of the precedingclaims, characterised in that two juxtaposed stems (s, s) are fixed tothe handle (i).
 19. Sports kit comprising the sports equipment (A)according to any one of the preceding claims, and a shield (12)comprising a disc-shaped structure (4) having an inner face (5) to whicha handle (6) is fixed and an outer face (7) provided with a softmaterial lining (r) in which the disc-shaped structure (4) is suitableto fixedly or removably house one or more variable weight elements (d).20. Use of a sports equipment (A) according to one or more of claims1-18 or the sports kit according to claim 19 for recreational or fitnessactivities.